|
| |
Honoring Native Americans
Below is an article that ran
in the local Mariposa, Ca. newspaper "The Mariposa Gazette"
Church Seeks Reconciliation
With Native Americans
Submitted by Pastor Henry Falany
Written November 23, 2000 (Thanksgiving Day)
 
A father's heart always desires to see his children love and care for one another. So it is with our Father in heaven who loves His children so much, He sacrificed His own Son as the spotless Lamb of God, on Calvary, for every one of them. “For God so loved the world...” John 3:16
During His time on earth, Jesus Himself said “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34 & 35) The scriptures teach us that loving our neighbor and living in unity with our brothers and sisters are much more than good and important principles to live by. Clearly and repeatedly, the Bible teaches us that these principles are not just good, but essential, if we are to walk in the perfect will, and the corresponding blessings of God.
As Christians here in Mariposa, I believe our mandate is clear. We must seek to walk in His love with all people. To me this means not only to start doing things rightly now, but to do our best to reconcile any wrongs committed in the past. The obvious place to start in this region, is with the indigenous people we call Native Americans, or the First Nation. These are a proud and a noble people whom we as Christians have not always respected and honored for who they are and what God created them to be. We all know there have been many wrongs committed over the years by our society and our government. Furthermore, I believe that even today many of us in society, and in the church, continue to walk, in varying degrees, with less than the love and
compassion of Jesus toward this precious people.
As a pastor of a local church, with the agreement of our congregation and members of other congregations within and outside Mariposa, I wish to express our hearts of shame and repentance to any Native people who may be reading this article.
I would ask that all First Nation people throughout the Mariposa region and this nation forgive us for not walking fully in the love of Christ toward you. Many times, we have not treated you as equals in the eyes of God. We have not always kept our word and consequently there have been broken promises, covenants and treaties. And perhaps worst of all, we have not honored your culture or understood your ways as we should have.
Please understand that we not only ask your forgiveness for the offenses over the last 150 years, but for all recent or personal exhibitions lacking honor and respect toward you by any of us.
As we come to you, we present no excuse for these offences, only true and humble repentance. If we could change the past we would, but we cannot. We can, however, change the present and future. I believe it can start right here and right now.
First Nation People
Please forgive us and accept our regrets and repentance.
It is truly our desire that all American Natives everywhere take their rightful position in society, and that they walk in the honor, blessing and dignity they deserve.
The Bible says "God is no respecter of persons." This means He loves all colors and races equally. For us to do less would surely grieve the heart of God.
My own family is a good example. Our oldest daughter, Bernadette, is from El Salvador and we believe she is of Mayan Indian descent. Our son, Travis, is from northern Mexico just south of El Paso, Texas. We believe he may be of Native American (possibly Apache) descent. However when my wife and I see our children, we don’t see Salvadoran, Mayan, Mexican or Apache. We see our precious children whom we love and cherish dearly. They are our family and just as much a part of us as we are of each other. Color and race is a non issue. The only issue in our home is heart, soul and spirit.
This is the way our heavenly Father sees all of us, and the way He wants us to see each other.
It is with this spirit we ask you to forgive us. Let us allow reconciliation to become complete between the white man and the Native American. Once this is complete and totally restored let's all work together and become totally color blind so we can finally become the family that God wants us to be.
THE KEYS OF REVIVAL ~ CHAD TAYLOR
November 17th-20th we spent 5 days in Northern California with 4 different
churches and witnessed a move of God. I will attempt to capture some of the
prophetic points and strategic highlights, with the help of others, in this
revival report. I believe that these three words are genuine keys of revival,
or really, the revival that is imminently over this nation: REPENTANCE,
RECONCILIATION, RENEWAL. And the things that transpired in Northern California
are crucial to the future of revival in this nation. If these issues are not
addressed and confronted in prayer from state to state, county to county, and
city to city, revival will remain hidden under the rubble of human sin and
error. You will see in this report from our recent trip to California what I
mean. Let me start with the first word, REPENTANCE. Unless the obstacles are
moved out of the road you are attempting to travel down, you cannot proceed. On
the road of revival their are innumerable obstacles that stand in the way of
progress. Some of these are, offenses, broken covenants (in America,
treaties...), unconfessed sin or offenses against another person, race, or
people. Again, prejudice, strife, emulations and jealousies, (especially
amongst churches and ministries), blood shed in a certain area or region that
has been unidentified and unconfessed. "The blood of your brother cries out
from the ground..." Unless these areas are repented for and covered by the
blood of Jesus the road to revival in our region remains unattainable and
uncrossable...
THE MARIPOSA MODEL ~ CHAD TAYLOR ~ 1999
In Mariposa, California God began to reveal a strategy for national revival.
The repercussions of what is being done
in Mariposa will impact the entire nation.
On November 18th 1999, Pastor's Henry and Grace Falany, Alan Medina and his wife
Ruth, and myself went to the old prison out on the water in San Francisco called
Alcatraz. We had a mission: Pray for the native people from this key place,
that had once occupied this island after the Federal Government closed the
maximum security facility down in 1969. At this historical crossroads a
people began a personal revival of identity and dignity. Alcatraz meant much
more to the First Nation People than it has the millions of tourists each year
that visit "The Rock." There is a small room
off of the main theatre at Alcatraz that repeats a video over and over of the
history of the Native American occupation and the stand-off on Alcatraz Island
that lasted for 19 months between November 20th, 1969 to June 11th, 1971. At
this historical junction that was a critical landmark for America we had to
pray. I would like Pastor Henry Falany, pastor of Mariposa Revival Center to
tell our story. I believe it is interesting that the name of the church is
Mariposa REVIVAL Center, in relation to what just happened in this place! Read
on!
MINISTERS OF RECONCILIATION ~ CHAD TAYLOR
Paul in the Bible made it very clear the specific ministry the Lord has given to
each of us, "...And He has given to us the ministry of reconciliation..."
(2nd Corinthians 5:18). Until we see the bridges repaired between nations,
peoples, churches, and hearts, we will never really experience true revival. In
the Webster's Dictionary it states that reconciliation means: "A
renewal
of friendship..."
It's no surprise then that the defining moments of the last decade has
been expressed by the word, "RENEWAL."
If we are ever going to experience the level of revival that
Jesus talked about and the early church experienced, WE MUST RECEIVE AND WALK
IN THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION! This is a critical key to revival...
I pray from city to city, state to state and across this country a Spirit of
reconciliation falls upon every church and Christian. That we begin to "Go
through the gates; prepare the way of the people; cast up, cast up, cast up the
highways, gather out the stones, lift
up a standard for the people..." (Is.
62:10). This speaks of preparing a way for a people not just the Lord!
Clearing and making a way for the people to come. I believe this speaks
directly to this nation and its relation between Anglo and Native. Native and
white. Mexican American and European American. Native American and Mexican
American. Asian and Anglo, Native and Asian. We must repair the breach and
LIFT UP A STANDARD FOR THE PEOPLE IF WE ARE EVER GOING TO SEE GENUINE REVIVAL!
In Mariposa we saw the first fruits of this
reconciliation take place. All across
the land this has been happening as First Nation (Native American) people take
the forefront in reconciliation, extending the hand of forgiveness and mercy to
their white brothers and sisters, it is the first move towards unprecedented
revival. I believe that all across this
nation we will see a "Mariposa Model" as
churches begin to build bridges of revival into hardened areas of their cities
and regions. If you want revival then go to where revival is needed! The
most profound statement I have heard concerning revival and reconciliation was
from a Lakota Sioux, Richard Twiss, "Don't come to us with the attitude,
'what I have for you...' but rather, 'what we may have for you...' " We
need that revelation of reconciliation, and I would encourage you to visit some
of the webpages listed below to get a greater grasp on this end time ministry.
RENEWAL AND A GREATER RESPONSIBILITY ~ CHAD TAYLOR
I heard the Lord say three years ago,
"The manifestation is for the demonstration."
God always has a goal in mind whenever He does
anything, THE WORLD! "For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son..." I remember when I first met Steve Shultz of the Elijah
List in Portland Oregon three years ago, we went to a McDonalds to eat and talk
with a couple of other people from the conference. The other two in our company
began to "manifest" and jerk and make noises as the Lord touched them. Suddenly
a sharp conviction came upon my heart and the Holy Spirit said, "Now you are
responsible for every soul in this place!" WOW! Here we were in McDonalds
to eat and leave, and suddenly we found ourselves on a mission from God!
PREACH! Yet so often, people go to public places and get drunk in the Spirit,
make all kind of funny noises and motions, get the attention of all the folks in
the restaurant of grocery store or whatever, and never once reach out and share
the love of Jesus! The Lord is saying in this hour, "NO MORE!" The
manifestation is only a flashing red light to get the attention of the world and
introduce them to Jesus. If we do not get a greater responsibility in our
renewal the Lord will take it away. Period. Read the report below to better
understand what I am saying.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON MARIPOSA!
~ CHAD TAYLOR
Keep
you eyes on Mariposa in the days ahead!
Agree with them as they blaze a trail of
revival for the entire nation! We have
only begun to see, REPENTANCE, RECONCILIATION, AND RENEWAL in the land. These
will be first fruits of national revival. God's plan is not to just "heal the
sick and raise the dead" though that is the confirmation many times of the word,
it is ultimately to "prepare the way of the Lord," and get the land ready
for a visitation from Jesus Christ Himself. Then, you will see all the miracles
you have ever dreamed of! We must first repair the breach and raise up the
desolation of many generations and bind up the broken heart of the people groups
and nations that brush up against us every day. We need to address the offenses
that stand right outside the gates of the city. The reservations and Native
land, we must extend hands of reconciliation and love. Not in a typical Anglo
arrogance that demands something in return, but to just simply offer the treaty
of God's love that cannot ever be broken...
Go to the areas of your city that really NEED revival! Don't just focus on your
own people group or neighborhood! GO OUT! Target the most dangerous and dark
place in your city. It is only dark because the enemy has recognized the
eternal destiny and prophetic seed that is right under the ground in that area!
"A treasure hidden in a field..." Pay whatever price necessary to see God move
in that area and revival burn in the hearts of the people! Be a "minister of
reconciliation!"
MARIPOSA REPORT from HENRY FALANY
"Mariposa, Ca. is a tiny community in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains on
the south end of the old 49er Mother Lode gold mining region. We are a small
but fiery revival/river church in this community that is contending for a
lasting "visitation/habitation" of the Holy Spirit. We have been blessed with
many waves of the Spirit since 1995 but we are hungry for much more!
In that light it has become evident to us that
God wants the First Nation to be included in this move. We have been trying to
build in-roads with the Native people for some time now but very little has been
accomplished aside from our food ministry and just getting to fellowship and
love on some of them.
This last weekend Chad Taylor paid us a visit and
I believe he was sent from heaven. And now it appears that this reconciliation
is going to have to start with our own repentance and renewing of our minds.
Before the meetings began here in Mariposa, we met Chad at San Francisco and we
went out to Alcatraz Island to pray for the Natives from the strategic point of
the famous siege back in 1969-71. It was an awesome time of intercession ...
and we believe it was prophetic.
After the time on Alcatraz the meetings here went
to a very high level in the Spirit. Chad had an awesome word for the occasion
and God used him mightily to convince us white folks that this thing is going to
begin with our own repentance. In the Sunday night service I, personally, was
able to repent to a strategic individual (First Nation) that had been offended
at our church years ago and had not been back to our church since ... and yet
Sunday night there he was. So I seized the opportunity. I was received and he
also asked for forgiveness. It was a very emotional but encouraging time for
everyone in the service ... weeping and tears everywhere... It was stated in our
Sunday night meeting by one of the area coordinators of the Spiritual Warfare
Network people (under Cindy Jacobs) that
the first treaty broken by the government in this state was here in Mariposa
county..." (End of quote - see below to
contact Mariposa).
IT'S TIME TO BECOME THE RIVER!
(Report from Vicky Blair)
"On November 19, three others and myself drove 3 hours up into the mountains of
Central California, knowing that the Lord would have something for us. When we
walked in the doors of Mariposa Revival
Center (formerly Sierra Faith Center),
the first words we heard Chad speak was, "In 24 hours, some of you will
realize what you received here tonight". I knew it was for us and received
that. Then he began to share his testimony and preached prophetically about
what the Lord was doing NOW in the Body of Christ regarding the Renewal that we
have all seen and been changed by.
"It's time to BECOME the river!",
was the most awesome thing that was said that night. For those of us still
"sitting and soaking" in the river and waiting for God's glory to fall - Look
out! He sending us out to the world! He's sending us to the psychics and
prostitutes! I say this because of Chad's revelation that God has a "Hit List"
with psychics and prostitutes right at the top. Who needs to experience the
power of God more than these?? He's sending us into the dark corners of our
cities to take what He has filled us with. Hallelujah! In the days ahead, I
am convinced that we will have no choice. As Chad prayed, "Burn up the pews
Lord!", I realized that many who are still sitting will suddenly lose their
seating! Chad also addressed the
manifestations of the Renewal by declaring that God would be holding the "jerkers
and hoo-ers" accountable in the days ahead. On a serious note, he encouraged
us to be aware of the unbelievers around us as we shake and jerk in public. He
made the statement that "if you are going to draw the attention of those
around you and you and don't share the love of God with them, their blood is on
your hands". In other words - Now that they are looking at you, what are
you going to do with it?? Though there were a couple of serious moments during
the evening, the majority of the time was spent laughing and enjoying the
presence of the Lord. Chad released a powerful impartation of the "warrior
spirit" into us to the background noise of Native American worship music and war
drums. Praise the Lord! What more can I say? I was changed. The others who
went with me were changed. We had much to discuss and pray about on our 3 hour
drive home. Tuesday night at our Home Group Bible Study,
the anointing of God was still upon us
and we shared what happened at Mariposa
with the group. We are now forming a team of radical warriors to take God's
saving and healing power to the streets in the city where we live. Send us
Lord!" (End of quote)
Bonnie Brae/Azusa Street Bus Trip ... Oct. 6 & 7, 2000
During our all night shut-in at the Bonnie Brae house last month, at the midnight hour, Pastor Charles Doolittle, the California coordinator for Cindy Jacob’s Strategic Warfare Network, spoke a powerful message to the group. While he was preaching he stopped suddenly and said he saw the name, or mantle, John G. Lake over Pastor Falany ... with a double portion. He then prophesied that mantle over the entire congregation. There was a wave of the Holy Spirit that swept through the hearts of everyone in the room that manifested into a roar of praise to the Lord. Then as Pastor Doolittle continued in his message he spoke of the voice of the Lion of Judah and referred to the King Lion. He said when the King Lion roars it commands the attention of everyone and
everything in the area. Pastor Henry Falany
 The Three Visions of “The Lion and the Eagle”
by Pastor Grace Falany
~~~~
The Lion ~ The King of Beasts ~ The Lion of Judah
The Eagle ~ The King of the Air ~ Speaks of Deity
~~~~
Vision One ~ The Lion
During our healing service just after the return from Azusa Street ... in an awesome move of the Holy Spirit, it was getting late, and Pastor Henry was deciding whether or not to preach his message that evening because of the late hour. But God instructed him to go ahead and release the message because the message was important for the people to receive at that time. Pastor Henry preached a powerful message he entitled “True Pentecost and The Breath of God.” It was an awesome message that spoke of the power of God that is in each of us. But, the way the Holy Ghost came on him, he preached it in a way that released fire and the lightning of God into everyone in the service. His delivery was uncommonly strong and loud even for him. He basically
roared the message out. But as he opened his mouth to begin the sermon an overwhelming vision was given to me.
I was seeing an open area ... like the vast area of Africa ... tall green grass ... a very large male lion, massive in strength, was roaring with a great roar ... other lion heads started to rise up out of the grasses as if lions were resting and raised their head to the attention of the roar. The vision was as if it was all in the center of our sanctuary. The Lord showed me Jeremiah 25:30 “The Lord shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout.”
I was then given the meaning. The Lion of Judah was sounding or roaring for the attention of the body of Christ ... and His people were lifting their heads and heeding the call to rise up.
Vision Two ~ The Eagle
During repentance to God for the American Natives
On Saturday morning November the 18th at our Mariposa home ... the day after our time of intercession on the San Francisco Bay island of Alcatraz ... While Pastor Henry and I and Chad Taylor and three other intercessors were on our faces on the floor under the dining room table in repentance regarding the native Americans ... I saw, and heard, a great bald eagle circling high above us. He was sounding with a loud screeching sound as if to call down to us. The witness in my spirit was that he was letting us know that He is with us on this.
Vision Three ~ “The Lion and the Eagle”
Two days after our pilgrimage to Alcatraz Island we were in our Sunday morning service with Guest speaker Chad Taylor. There was a lot of change coming rather rapidly toward Pastor Henry, and all of us, concerning the Native Americans, revival and the cultural and religious differences, etc. As Pastor was reaching and stretching there is always that need for confirmation from the Lord that we are in His perfect will.
This time a large male lion was up front at the altar, and once again roaring with a very loud sounding roar ... and looking directly at Pastor Henry. At the same time I saw a bald eagle circling as if high above and calling down with a loud screeching sound. The eagle also had his eyes fixed on Pastor. They were both staring intensely at him. The lion was standing there roaring a window rattling roar and the eagle was circling and screeching a blood curdling sound. Combined they sounded like a loud thunder in the sanctuary. In Psm. 29 it says that“ ... The voice of the Lord ... breaketh the cedars of Lebanon ... and ... shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh.”
The word that kept coming to me during this scene was ... approval, approval, approval!
End of visions ~ Pastor Grace Falany
Pastor Henry’s Interpretation ~ Confirmation From Heaven
What I received from Grace’s vision was this: The Lord was telling me with a fury and aggression that we were on target with our repentance and intercessions for the Native Americans, and that time was of the essence. It also confirmed that focusing on reconciliation with the Native Americans, and our repentance and honoring their culture was His will. Furthermore, it says to me that it is outpouring time for the First Nation people! Also, that He would bless and anoint and guide us as we proceed. Isa 62:10 says “Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.”
More Concluding Thoughts
As we meditate on these visions, and the order and circumstances in which they came, we begin to see God’s will and plan for revival in the region. He is about to visit us with a fresh and powerful anointing that will include healing and miracles that will dwarf the testimonies of the great generals of the past. This outpouring and “demonstration of the Spirit and of power” is going to sweep souls into the kingdom. But, before that comes in its fulness, this country’s first residents are going to be honored and included. That makes them not just important, but essential, to the great revival that looms on the horizon.
Pastor Henry Falany
Photo information for the Healing the Land Seminar presented by
Dr. Suuqiina and his wife Quamanic.
|
